WO2008145649A1 - Method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels - Google Patents

Method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008145649A1
WO2008145649A1 PCT/EP2008/056471 EP2008056471W WO2008145649A1 WO 2008145649 A1 WO2008145649 A1 WO 2008145649A1 EP 2008056471 W EP2008056471 W EP 2008056471W WO 2008145649 A1 WO2008145649 A1 WO 2008145649A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
panel
sublimatic
thermoplastic resin
paper
decorative image
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/056471
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008145649A8 (en
Inventor
Oliver Simonaggio
Massimo Simonaggio
Original Assignee
Maxi Studio S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maxi Studio S.R.L. filed Critical Maxi Studio S.R.L.
Publication of WO2008145649A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008145649A1/en
Publication of WO2008145649A8 publication Critical patent/WO2008145649A8/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic
    • B41M5/0358—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic characterised by the mechanisms or artifacts to obtain the transfer, e.g. the heating means, the pressure means or the transport means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
    • B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
    • B44C1/165—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor
    • B44C1/17—Dry transfer
    • B44C1/1712—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
    • B44C1/1716—Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff layer on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C5/00—Processes for producing special ornamental bodies
    • B44C5/04—Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels.
  • Bathtubs and shower cubicles of this kind, as well as simpler shower trays, are generally made of thermoformed plastic material; in particular, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (better known by its acronym ABS) and methacrylate are used.
  • ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
  • methacrylate methacrylate
  • these bathroom fixtures are manufactured in a single color, usually white, and then can be decorated by means of decals, stickers, screen printing or painting.
  • decorations of this type have the drawback of peeling or, depending on the decoration technique, of detaching from the surface on which they are placed.
  • sublimatic paper a backing paper, known as sublimatic paper
  • the inks of the decoration imprinted on the sublimatic paper, sublimate and diffuse within the surface of the body to be decorated, indelibly transferring thereto the decorative image.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels which provides indelible decorations, which last much longer than the decorations that can be provided by means of currently known methods.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a decoration method which allows to decorate even just part of the panel to be decorated.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible decoration method which allows to repeat the same decoration on several panels and to provide a wide range of panels with the most disparate decorations.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a decoration method which is simple and easy to apply and can be performed with relatively low costs.
  • thermoplastic resin plates characterized in that it comprises:
  • thermoplastic resin panel a fifth step for the transfer, by sublimatic thermoprinting, of said decorative image from said sublimatic paper to said thermoplastic resin panel.
  • FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the decoration method according to the invention.
  • Figures 2a and 2b are views of the first step of the decoration method according to the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a view of the second step of the decoration method according to the invention.
  • Figure 4 is a view of the third step and fourth step of the decoration method according to the invention.
  • Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are views of the fifth step of the decoration method according to the invention;
  • Figure 6 is a view of a thermoplastic resin panel obtained with the decoration method according to the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention It is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
  • the reference numeral 10 generally designates a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels, which, according to the invention, comprises:
  • a third step 15 for applying the sublimatic paper 14 to a first face of a panel 16 made of thermoplastic resin, with the interposition of a separation film 17 which is permeable to sublimation vapors,
  • a fourth step 18 for the engagement of the second face of the panel 16 with a metallic lamina 19 which is covered, at least on one of its portions for engagement with the panel 16, by a thermally activatable coating for retaining the panel 16 so that it adheres to the metallic lamina 19 during their heating and cooling,
  • the first step 1 1 comprises a step 22 for electronic processing of the decorative image 12 to adapt it to the body to be provided with the thermoplastic resin panel 16.
  • the film 17 is advantageously made of polypropylene and has a thickness comprised between 13 and 20 microns.
  • the role of the film 17 is to keep the sublimatic paper 14 separated from the panel 16 during sublimatic thermoprinting 21 , so as to avoid its sticking which would occur due to the softening of the panel 16 during this step.
  • the fifth step 20 comprises the cooling of the panel 16 which adheres to the metallic lamina 19, which is preferably made of steel, to prevent deformations caused by cooling of the panel 16.
  • the thermally activatable coating that covers the metallic lamina 19 in fact acts, during the step for sublimatic thermoprinting 21 , as an adhesive, retaining the panel 16 so that it adheres to the lamina 19. In this manner, deformations due to the differential contraction of the thermoplastic resin of the panel 16 as the temperature decreases are prevented.
  • the fifth step 20 further comprises the separation 21 of the panel 16 from the metallic lamina 19 and a removal 23 of the sublimatic paper 14 and of the film 17 from the panel 16.
  • thermoplastic resin panels which provides indelible decorations, which last much longer than the decorations that can be provided by means of currently known methods; sublimatic thermoprinting in fact produces the diffusion of the pigments within the surface layer of the panel, reproducing the decorations indelibly therein.
  • a decoration method according to the invention is flexible, allowing both to repeat the same decoration on several panels, simply by providing multiple sheets of sublimatic paper which bear the same decoration, and to provide a vast range of panels with the most disparate decorations.

Landscapes

  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Decoration By Transfer Pictures (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)

Abstract

A method (10) for decorating thermoplastic resin panels, comprising: a first step (11) for acquiring a decorative image ( 12); a second step (13) for printing the decorative image (12) on sublimatic paper (14); a third step (15) for applying the sublimatic paper (14) to a first face of a thermoplastic resin panel (16), with the interposition of a separation film (17) which is permeable to sublimation vapors; a fourth step (18) for engagement of the second face of the panel (16) with a metallic lamina (19), which is covered, at least on one of its portions for engagement with the panel (16), by a coating which can be activated thermally to retain the panel (16) so that it adheres to the metallic lamina (19) during heating and cooling; a fifth step (20) for the transfer, by sublimatic thermoprinting (21), of the decorative image (12) from the sublimatic paper (14) to the thermoplastic resin panel (16).

Description

METHOD FOR DECORATING THERMOPLASTIC RESIN PANELS Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels. Background Art
Shower cubicles and bathtubs are currently known which have rather complex structures, with receptacles for hydromassage nozzles, ledge-like hollows, receptacles for mirrors, et cetera.
Bathtubs and shower cubicles of this kind, as well as simpler shower trays, are generally made of thermoformed plastic material; in particular, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (better known by its acronym ABS) and methacrylate are used.
As regards the coloring and decoration of these bathroom fixtures, they are manufactured in a single color, usually white, and then can be decorated by means of decals, stickers, screen printing or painting.
All these decoration techniques are performed on the already-formed product; therefore, particularly if it has complex shapes, they may be not easy to apply.
Further, decorations of this type have the drawback of peeling or, depending on the decoration technique, of detaching from the surface on which they are placed.
One currently known decoration technique which obviates this drawback is sublimatic thermoprinting.
It is used particularly in the decoration of fabrics and consists in transferring by sublimation the ink that forms the decoration from a backing paper, known as sublimatic paper, to the surface to be decorated.
Such transfer process is caused by the temperature, around 180-
2100C, and by the pressure to which the sublimatic paper is subjected while it is applied to the surface to be decorated: the inks of the decoration, imprinted on the sublimatic paper, sublimate and diffuse within the surface of the body to be decorated, indelibly transferring thereto the decorative image.
To date, however, sublimatic thermoprinting is not applied to the decoration of bathroom fixtures or to objects in general made of ABS or methacrylate or more generally thermoplastic resin, since the sublimation temperatures of the sublimatic inks are higher than the creep temperatures of these materials, which therefore would adhere to the sublimatic paper, sticking thereto, and would become deformed during the cooling step due to the internal tensions caused by the differential contraction of the material as the temperature decreases. Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels which provides indelible decorations, which last much longer than the decorations that can be provided by means of currently known methods.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a decoration method which allows to decorate even just part of the panel to be decorated.
Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible decoration method which allows to repeat the same decoration on several panels and to provide a wide range of panels with the most disparate decorations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoration method which is simple and easy to apply and can be performed with relatively low costs.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for decorating thermoplastic resin plates, characterized in that it comprises:
- a first step for acquiring the decorative image,
- a second step for printing said decorative image on sublimatic paper, - a third step for applying said sublimatic paper to a first face of a thermoplastic resin panel, with the interposition of a separation film which is permeable to sublimation vapors,
- a fourth step for engagement of the second face of said panel with said metallic lamina, which is covered, at least on one of its portions, for engagement with said panel, by a coating which can be activated thermally to retain said panel, so that it adheres to said metallic lamina during heating and cooling,
— a fifth step for the transfer, by sublimatic thermoprinting, of said decorative image from said sublimatic paper to said thermoplastic resin panel.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the decoration method according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a flowchart of the decoration method according to the invention;
Figures 2a and 2b are views of the first step of the decoration method according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the second step of the decoration method according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a view of the third step and fourth step of the decoration method according to the invention; Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are views of the fifth step of the decoration method according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a view of a thermoplastic resin panel obtained with the decoration method according to the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention It is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels, which, according to the invention, comprises:
- a first step 11, for acquiring a decorative image 12,
- a second step 13, for printing on sublimatic paper 14 the decorative image 12,
- a third step 15, for applying the sublimatic paper 14 to a first face of a panel 16 made of thermoplastic resin, with the interposition of a separation film 17 which is permeable to sublimation vapors,
- a fourth step 18, for the engagement of the second face of the panel 16 with a metallic lamina 19 which is covered, at least on one of its portions for engagement with the panel 16, by a thermally activatable coating for retaining the panel 16 so that it adheres to the metallic lamina 19 during their heating and cooling,
- a fifth step 20 for transfer, by sublimatic thermoprinting 21 , of the decorative image 12 from the sublimatic paper 14 to the thermoplastic resin panel 16. Preferably, the first step 1 1 comprises a step 22 for electronic processing of the decorative image 12 to adapt it to the body to be provided with the thermoplastic resin panel 16.
Further, the film 17 is advantageously made of polypropylene and has a thickness comprised between 13 and 20 microns. The role of the film 17 is to keep the sublimatic paper 14 separated from the panel 16 during sublimatic thermoprinting 21 , so as to avoid its sticking which would occur due to the softening of the panel 16 during this step.
Conveniently, the fifth step 20 comprises the cooling of the panel 16 which adheres to the metallic lamina 19, which is preferably made of steel, to prevent deformations caused by cooling of the panel 16.
The thermally activatable coating that covers the metallic lamina 19 in fact acts, during the step for sublimatic thermoprinting 21 , as an adhesive, retaining the panel 16 so that it adheres to the lamina 19. In this manner, deformations due to the differential contraction of the thermoplastic resin of the panel 16 as the temperature decreases are prevented.
Advantageously, the fifth step 20 further comprises the separation 21 of the panel 16 from the metallic lamina 19 and a removal 23 of the sublimatic paper 14 and of the film 17 from the panel 16.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, by providing a method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels which provides indelible decorations, which last much longer than the decorations that can be provided by means of currently known methods; sublimatic thermoprinting in fact produces the diffusion of the pigments within the surface layer of the panel, reproducing the decorations indelibly therein.
Further, a decoration method according to the invention is flexible, allowing both to repeat the same decoration on several panels, simply by providing multiple sheets of sublimatic paper which bear the same decoration, and to provide a vast range of panels with the most disparate decorations.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2007A000195 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the inteipretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A method (10) for decorating thermoplastic resin panels, characterized in that it comprises:
- a first step (11) for acquiring a decorative image (12), — a second step (13) for printing said decorative image (12) on sublimatic paper ( 14),
- a third step (15) for applying said sublimatic paper (14) to a first face of a thermoplastic resin panel ( 16), with the interposition of a separation film (17) which is permeable to sublimation vapors, - a fourth step (18) for engagement of the second face of said panel
(16) with a metallic lamina (19), which is covered, at least on one of its portions for engagement with said panel (16), by a coating which can be activated thermally to retain said panel ( 16) so that it adheres to said metallic lamina ( 19) during heating and cooling, - a fifth step (20) for the transfer, by sublimatic thermoprinting (21), of said decorative image (12) from said sublimatic paper (14) to said thermoplastic resin panel (16).
2. The decoration method according to claim 1, characterized in that said first step (1 1) comprises a step for the electronic processing (18) of said decorative image ( 12) to adapt it to the body to be provided with said panel (16) made of thermoplastic resin.
3. The decoration method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said film (17) is made of polypropylene.
4. The decoration method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said film (17) has a thickness comprised between 13 and 20 microns.
5. The decoration method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said metallic lamina (19) is made of steel.
6. The decoration method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fifth step (20) comprises the cooling of said panel (16) which adheres to said metallic lamina (19) to prevent deformations caused by the cooling of said panel (16).
7. The decoration method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fifth step (20) comprises the separation (21 ) of said panel ( 16) from said metallic lamina (19) and the removal (22) of said sublimatic paper (14) and of said film (17) from said panel (16).
PCT/EP2008/056471 2007-06-01 2008-05-27 Method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels WO2008145649A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITPD2007A000195 2007-06-01
ITPD20070195 ITPD20070195A1 (en) 2007-06-01 2007-06-01 "PROCESS OF DECORATION OF SLABS IN THERMOPLASTIC RESIN"

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008145649A1 true WO2008145649A1 (en) 2008-12-04
WO2008145649A8 WO2008145649A8 (en) 2009-03-05

Family

ID=39761035

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2008/056471 WO2008145649A1 (en) 2007-06-01 2008-05-27 Method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) ITPD20070195A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008145649A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2653319A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2013-10-23 Kohler Co. Decorated rigid panel

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3952131A (en) * 1973-07-10 1976-04-20 Sideman Carl E Heat transfer print sheet and printed product
EP0218168A2 (en) * 1985-10-09 1987-04-15 Röhm Gmbh Transfer-printing process
WO1998015416A1 (en) * 1996-10-08 1998-04-16 Waveney Plastics Ltd. Method of decoration
US20010027839A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 2001-10-11 Italo Goffi Process for the production of variously painted and/or decorated artefacts by means of the technique of transfer from a sublimable colour support

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3952131A (en) * 1973-07-10 1976-04-20 Sideman Carl E Heat transfer print sheet and printed product
EP0218168A2 (en) * 1985-10-09 1987-04-15 Röhm Gmbh Transfer-printing process
WO1998015416A1 (en) * 1996-10-08 1998-04-16 Waveney Plastics Ltd. Method of decoration
US20010027839A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 2001-10-11 Italo Goffi Process for the production of variously painted and/or decorated artefacts by means of the technique of transfer from a sublimable colour support

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2653319A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2013-10-23 Kohler Co. Decorated rigid panel
US9809054B2 (en) 2012-04-19 2017-11-07 Kohler Co. Decorated rigid panel
US9956704B2 (en) 2012-04-19 2018-05-01 Kohler Co. Decorated rigid panel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008145649A8 (en) 2009-03-05
ITPD20070195A1 (en) 2008-12-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4913858A (en) Method of embossing a coated sheet with a diffraction or holographic pattern
US5707472A (en) Composite for in-mold transfer printing and process for in-mold printing of molded plastic or rubber articles therewith
CA1324869C (en) Decoration of sheeting
US4012552A (en) Decorative metal film heat transfer decalcomania
US5164227A (en) Method for embossing a coated sheet with a diffraction or holographic pattern
US5155604A (en) Coated paper sheet embossed with a diffraction or holographic pattern
US5508248A (en) Heat transfer sheet and base sheet therefor
JP5296059B2 (en) Transfer sheet with excellent stereoscopic effect
JP5095598B2 (en) Method for producing partial mat transfer sheet
KR20170107773A (en) a producing method for a exterior decoration sheet comprising solid patterns and the exterior decoration sheet produced by the method
WO2008145649A1 (en) Method for decorating thermoplastic resin panels
KR101739813B1 (en) Tatoo sticker manufacturing method using a double sided foil
CA2456394A1 (en) Method and laminate for applying dye sublimated ink decoration to a surface
JP3762887B2 (en) Method for producing hairline decorative molded product
WO2019044058A1 (en) Card and method for manufacturing same
KR100364621B1 (en) Sheet for decorating door and method for manufacturing thereof
JP2789962B2 (en) Manufacturing method of decorative board
TWI496694B (en) Roll of hot stamping material and formation thereof
JP2589833B2 (en) Sheet material decoration
JP2010052353A (en) Transfer sheet having hairline design, and method of manufacturing transfer molded product
KR100269773B1 (en) A method for transferring of various pattern by heat expansion and adsorption
JPH0340720B2 (en)
JPH0248935A (en) Transfer film and manufacture thereof
JPH0542799A (en) Painting method for mesh tone fabric
JPH0768693A (en) Production of inorganic decorative panel

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 08760069

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 08760069

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1